It was a cold morning for the two city girls, sleeping in the roof tent. They wished they put their clothes in the sleeping bag as the salesperson at the camping store suggested. It would have been nice and warm and not make them freeze as they put on one article of clothing and waited for it to warm up before putting on another one.
The two made a plan to get the individual and the two photoshoots done. Rose would put up a fight and it was easier to get their side done. The two agreed to wait until it gets warmer. Every task they performed; they kept the blankets on them.
Rose woke up Wes with a cup of coffee. She was being very comforting and what Wes didn't know; a bit guilty. The two went back down to the lab. No creatures captured. Wes didn't walk closer to the plastic cages.
"It's alright," Rose called back to him. "This was bound to happen anyways. Changes in the environment will bring out the curious ones. When the change becomes part of the environment, it no longer becomes something new, it becomes integral. Similar to the elephant migration that cuts through a motel, or the oil platforms that have sea life sticking to all sides. Manmade items that become part of the environment. Sometimes it has a greater impact then it was intended." She glanced over to him. "Let's not continue to worry about these, rather continue our efforts with taking samples."
She headed through the doors to head into one of the lab sides. Wes felt relieved they were going back to mundane swabbing. He just had to watch out for them, nothing else of the sort. Rose would peek at him while swabbing. He seemed more relaxed.
Their alarms went off, prompting them it was time to head out of the lab. It was a quiet, easy, day at the lab.
Luciana and Cota were halfway done. They kept on the rocks as they were worried about El Blanco. It hadn't ventured over to that area but they still wanted to keep their lives so they made sure to look around before stepping on the ground.
"What time should we wake her up at?" Cota was putting her camera away.
"Early bird gets the worm," Luciana answered. "So, midnight?" She let out a laugh. Cota chuckled with her. "Maybe wake up at five then head over to her place at six?"
Cota liked that idea. "Let's make sure that we have everything ready so we could just drive and leave."
"Sleep with the clothes on we're going to wear tomorrow?" Luciana raised her eyebrows.
"At least have them in our sleeping bags this time?' Cota placed the bag in the vehicle.
"Yeah, as long as it's warm," Luciana agreed.
It was another peaceful night. Their alarm sounded. The two got up, got dressed. It took both of them to get everything reloaded and the tent to get back in its place. Cota brought out the GPS to follow Rose's route.
The two followed the route, driving through town. They were lucky enough to miss Burt on his morning routine surveying the valley. Cota liked the area the were going through, great landscapes, nice backdrops for her photoshoots. The white hummer and black truck parked in front of a mobile facility clued them in that it was the right place.
"Another vehicle?" Luciana was worried. "She usually has a guard with her."
"We're not busting in, just knocking," Cota shut off the vehicle to coast up to the two parked ones. She had the lights turned off when the sun started to rise. "No El Blanco?"
Luciana looked around. "No."
The two opened and closed the doors with ease, making sure no noise was made. They walked over to the door. Cota knocked upon it.
Wes, who was still trying to get over the Lovecraft stories and his feeling of guilt, woke up in jolt to the knocking. Rose woke up to him sitting straight up. She turned her head towards him. Did he have another nightmare? She didn't hear the knock.
Wes didn't know if he dreamt the knock or if it was real. Probably a dream. No one would be able to knock on their door since it's a secret place they are camped at.
Knock-knock-knock!
Wes jerked his head to where the sound was coming from. Rose sat straight up. Someone was outside the door.
"You stay here," she flipped the covers off of her. "You're in no mental state to be answering that." She grabbed her gun in the drawer next to her. She moved through the facility with stealth. Placing her back against the wall. She peered over to see that there wasn't anyone up next to the door.
Rose placed the gun on the counter, in reach to grab if something did happen. She opened the door, swinging it wide to see who was out there. Two familiar faces she hoped she wouldn't be seeing in a while were smiling up at her. Rose let out a groan. "Come on in." She moved away.
"Nice place," Cota complimented.
"Take a seat, I'll change into clothes," Rose grabbed the gun and headed back to the bedroom. Luciana and Cota glanced at one another before breaking out into mischievous smiles.
Rose shut the door behind her. Wes watched her put the gun away. "Everything alright?" He could sense she was annoyed.
"My friends have found me," Rose grabbed her clothes. "I should have looked more for those little devices!" She headed towards the bathroom.
Wes thought it was a good idea to go back to sleep. He would just think this was all a dream and wake up just fine. He laid back down and closed his eyes. Rose came out in time to see him asleep. She made sure to be quiet when she left the room and shut the door behind her.
She headed over to her friends who were sitting at the table but staring all around. "I would ask what brings you here but I already know."
"Good, then you won't mind us stealing you for the day to finish the photoshoot," Cota got straight to it.
"I wouldn't mind," Rose was reluctant. "What places did you have in mind?"
"Wow!" Cota was astonished. "I thought you would kick us out right now and we would have to fight more."
"Am I really that terrible of a friend?" Rose sighed. Cota and Luciana looked to one another before looking back to her. "All right-all right. I am, so where?"
"We already did the residual boulder," Luciana moved her finger in the air like she was checking it off.
"You took a tour from Tyler," Rose got out cups. "That's why I didn't see you earlier."
"Exactly," Cota corrected. "Oh, yes, hot drinks! I think I would like glamping better than the tent."
Rose turned around. "You slept on the ground?!"
"No-no-no-no!" Luciana waved her hands. "We slept on a roof tent for our car that was parked on one of the residual boulders. We were safe-safe."
"Good," Rose let out a breath she was holding.
"But yeah, we had tour," Cota got back on track. "We have done the mountain and sage desert pictures, now we need sand pictures."
"I have a place we could take those and not have to worry about El Blanco," Rose wanted to get these pictures done and get them out of Perfection in a safe and timely manner.
Wes could not sleep. He decided to get up and get dressed. He was going to meet her friends sooner or later so might as well be sooner. Plus, if Burt had noticed them, he's going to need to lie for them.
He walked out to see the three ladies at the table with cups. "Good morning, ladies."
Cota and Luciana gave him a once over. "Good morning!" Their voices chipper and sweet. Rose knew it was going to be a long day already.
"You didn't even greet us," Luciana snapped at Rose.
"I just said goodbye to both of you!" Rose refuted. "Alright, we will spend the whole day shooting, but after that both of you need to leave." She just remembered the creature that escaped back into the lab. They spent one night here, safe for now, but the more nights spending in Perfection, the higher the chance of something strange will happen.
Wes made breakfast for all of them. It was the least he could do. He sat next to Rose and noticed the two friends were stealing glances. This was going to be an interesting day as he got roped into helping them with the photoshoot.
The photoshoot was going to be above the lab, just behind the opening with the hoist. It would be the safest from El Blanco. Burt wouldn't be able to spy on them either. It was the best area. Cota was taking snapshots so she could visualize what she wanted to be while Rose was getting makeup put on by Luciana. Wes was holding a light reflector, trying not to space out.
Rose was ready and headed to her marker in the sand. She got into the first pose. Tattooed leg out and flexed while the upper torso was twisted to not see her face and arms placed artistically to hide all of that. A pose that hurt, but majority of all poses hurt.
"Wes, how buff are you?" Cota was kneeling on the ground. He almost didn't hear her.
"I'm not Adonis," he mentioned. "I do have some muscles, why?"
"Take off your shirt," Cota responded. "You're going to be a model."
"Who's going to hold this then?" He looked down.
"Don't worry about that," Cota didn't want to keep arguing about that. "Take off your shirt and I'll direct your posing. Don't worry about Rose, she's a professional."
Wes didn't know what he was getting into. It took them all day as they switched outfits, all three of them posed together. Wes was even posed with them.
Burt had found tire tracks upon the residual boulder. He tried to radio those around him to see if they knew of any vehicle passing through. The only one that they could think of was the two ladies who bought the whole tour tickets.
He tried to get ahold of Wes and Rose but the two weren't picking up. Cota was the closest one to the radios but she was too focused onto her work to hear it.
Burt decided to follow the tracks. They came off of the main road to skid marks on the boulder then back to the main road. Maybe they just stayed for one night and just left. That would be the best possible outcome but these are uneducated people who don't know about wildlife. Signs were not enough to deter people from worrying about their safety. He did a second round of surveillance in the valley. Safety for everyone was top priority.
It was late afternoon, when the grouped finished up. Cota begged Rose for a picture of El Blanco. Rose was not going to seek out El Blanco. She did have pictures of it breaching. Rose gave her the copy of the pictures she had of it. Cota hugged her. Wes let Cota know that she should do something with the town. Cota already had plans. She wanted to get the Gorgon sister aspect out of the way before doing part of the town.
The two ladies thanked Rose and Wes for the hospitality before heading off back through town. They parked back in front of Chang's. Jodi and Rosalita were explaining to Nancy about their encounter with a celebrity yesterday. The three didn't notice them until they heard the door opened.
"Hello again," Cota smiled her best smile as she walked up to them. "I need some help; would you mind helping me?"
Jodi and Rosalita gaped while Nancy stepped in. "Yes, what do you need?"
"I need models," Cota beamed.
"I volunteer!" Jodi and Rosalita spoke at the same time.
"Good!" Cota knew she didn't have to do much as they would be willing to help with anything she asked.
Burt came back into the town after his evening rounds to see Jodi, Nancy, and Rosalita being photographed with Chang's Market as the backdrop. It was the side wall with the mural.
"What is going on here?" Burt pulled up to the other side of the Land Rover. He stepped out when they were almost done. "Evening ladies." He greeted them.
"Good evening," Luciana greeted. She was holding the reflector.
"Mind telling me who you are and why you are taking pictures of the townspeople?" Burt took off his glasses.
"It's for a fashion line," Cota explained. "Hold your poses." She headed over to Burt, grabbed him by the arm. He put up a fuss but Cota ignored him. She placed him in the midst of the three while posing him. "Stay right there. Keep giving that serious look." Cota headed back to her spot and took a few more snaps. "Amazing. Thank you everyone! I can't wait for the finished product; you all have been an immense help."
Burt glanced at each woman around him. "What is going on!?"
"You are now a part of Cota Orlav's editorial for her newest fashion line," Cota winked at him. "Don't worry, I'll send your pay for modeling and send you the PR package for that line."
"W-we get that?!" Rosalita pointed at all four of them.
"Yes," Luciana nodded. "You get that!"
"If Burt doesn't want his, can I have it instead, for my daughter?" Nancy knew Burt was not going to want his.
"I can actually get you a second one just for her," Cota was willing. Just had to ask and majority of the time they shall receive. "Who else is in this town, that I can gift? I have been taking photos everywhere so it would only be right."
"We have Tyler, Larry, us four, and then two scientists Casey and Roger," Burt didn't want to give away Wes and Rose.
"I'll make sure everyone gets one," Cota nodded as she put her camera back in its bag. Luciana was putting the accessories back away as well.
It was a week later when all of the town received their packages. Jodi, Tyler, Rosalita, and Larry were in the restaurant part of the market, opening their boxes.
"We got the exclusive magazines that it will come out in," Rosalita was placing the magazines on the table. She moved a tissue paper, starting waving her hands and stomping her feet. "We have her clothes! We have her clothes!"
Jodi started to dig into the box. "We have a whole look!" She brought out shoes and a purse.
Tyler gave a blank stare to the women. He shook his head before searching through his box. This fashion designer did present a whole look, along with several clothing items.
"This is so much fun!" Larry felt like it was Christmas or birthday with all of these boxes. He let out a gasp. "I should have recorded all of us!"
"Why would anyone want to watch people open boxes of stuff?" Tyler didn't get it.
"It would be presents after presents watching someone open what they got," Larry argued. "You would get to feed that curiosity of being nosey without being actually nosey."
"Sounds boring," Tyler went back to seeing everything inside the box.
Rosalita was flipping through the pages of the magazine to see where they were at. "Oh-look-look-look!" She pointed to the pages. "Gorgon Sisters in Perfection! Look at that!" She flipped through the pages staring intently with a smile.
"I do have a question though," Tyler was placing the items back in the box. "How did she know our sizes?" Tyler glanced at them.
"That does raise a good question," Larry stopped to wonder.
Rosalita stared at one page for a while. Jodi glanced to see what page she was staring at. "Do you like the picture of the two?"
"I know that body," Rosalita glanced at her. "I know that back silhouette anywhere. We all do."
"Uh, who's back does it belong to?" Larry moved to look at the page.
"Who else is macho around here to have that physique, Wes," Rosalita smirked.
"Wes, that's Wes?" Jodi pointed to the page. "How can you tell?"
"I know a lovely back when I see one, and he has one of the nicest," Rosalita explained. "That's his back."
"But then how did he meet with them?" Jodi was trying to recount that day.
The group stopped to think about that. Maybe they met while they were driving around. That would be the only connection. The group did think maybe Rose but that wouldn't be plausible. How could a scientist of a secret government facility know a high-end fashion designer? There was no connection. There was a better connection between Wes meeting up with Burt on surveillance and then meeting up with the two ladies instead.
Wes brought the boxes to Rose. He got his through the pick-up location in Bixby. "Two packages from your friends." He set them down. "I hear Twitchell didn't get a box."
"No one brought up his name," Rose got a box cutter out. "I wonder what the rest of the town thinks about the PR."
"I wonder if they made the connection between all three of you," Wes grabbed the box cutter from her after she cut hers open.
"The best hiding spots are right in front," Rose placed the magazines on the table.
"Or it could be that you're so nerdy there is no connection," Wes shrugged. "What did your friends call you again? Sailor Mercury?"
Rose rolled her eyes. "You know Burt is not going to be happy with the repercussions. More publicity to Perfection and El Blanco could mean more trouble for him."
"Then he can forget about my mistake," Wes actually liked that. "When do these magazines go out again?"
"PR usually goes to those about a week or so before the actual launch," Rose grabbed a magazine. "It took a few days for this to get to us, magazine is a monthly publication, well one of them is." She looked at the other magazines. "Oh, looks like tomorrow for this one."
"And when people read this magazine, what can the scientist conclude on what's going to happen to Perfection?" Wes didn't think it was going to be so soon. The giant flying squirrel was still a problem let alone all the other creatures in there. He didn't have time to prepare himself.
Rose paused as she was bringing out the clothes. "I think there will be people coming out of the woodwork. People the town knows, like Melvin. When someone or something gets more publicity, everyone wants to grab their share. Why do you think I like working for a secret government facility? No one will know my name but I will have made countless discoveries. Two of the Gorgon sisters will be faceless."
"Give or take how many days do you think it will take for them to come here?" Wes wanted to prepare himself.
"The people who read these magazines are mostly women," Rose set down the clothes. "Women will come first wanting to duplicate the looks and the photography, especially when its this close to them. They won't do any harm. Lots of business for tours, market place, and the like. The ones who will do the most harm like Melvin, would take a few days from this publication. Con men and scammers. Men like Larry would come just to see the truth behind the editorial."
"Going to have lots of Melvins then, great," Wes went back to the box. "You really think they won't make the connection since we're the only ones that have their files that say their shoe and clothing sizes?" Rose shook her head. "I guess that happens when you stay in a place that has weird things going on the daily. That would tip me off. If I got a PR box and all the articles of clothing and shoes were perfect fits, that would spook me."
"A subterranean prehistoric species that hunts by sound and is near extinction comes through the town like clockwork," Rose spoke aloud. "Like an elephant migration that happens every day, they don't even bat an eye."